Paw selector system and method

ABSTRACT

A paw selector for maintaining poultry paws in an ordered, indexed manner so that each paw can be matched with the carcass from which it was removed is provided. The paw selector has a tray coupled to a rotatable shaft. Rotation of the shaft causes the walls of the tray to rotate, thereby urging paws on the tray over a stationary tray bottom. Upon reaching a void in the tray bottom, the paws drop through the void onto a lower tray or into a predetermined receptacle for further processing. At least on sensor can maintain correlation between the paw and the carcass from which it was removed for disposal of any rejected paws.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a paw selector system forcorrelating a poultry paw with the carcass from which it was removed.More specifically, the invention pertains to systems and methods formaintaining poultry paws in an ordered, indexed manner so that each pawcan be matched with the carcass from which it was removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A “paw” refers to the foot of poultry, such as chicken, turkey, quail,duck and the like, once the foot is removed from the bird. Inconventional poultry processing plants, the bird is hung on an overheadconveyor and killed. As the bird continues to move along the overheadconveyor (referred to as a picking line), the foot or paw can be cut orotherwise separated from the rest of the carcass. The separated bird istransferred to the eviscerating line, while further down the pickingline, the foot or paw is removed from the picking line by a paw cutteror foot unloader. As the bird moves down the eviscerating line itspasses before a USDA or plant inspector. If the bird is condemned by theinspector, then the paw or foot must be thrown away. Because the time toreach the inspector is shorter than the time for the foot or paw toreach the foot unloader or paw cutter, a paw holding and correlationsystem must be used. That is, the foot or paw needs to be tracked orindexed so that the paw is traceable to the bird from which it was cut.

Conventional paw holding and correlation systems include a belt conveyorhaving a length of around one hundred feet or more and a picking linehaving a length extended by around six hundred feet or more. A shacklecount and shift registers in a computer can be used to identify the footor paw. These belt systems require a large time gate to remove thecondemned paws. This throws away many good paws, undesirably loweringthe yield of the plant.

Further, long picking lines can be expensive and difficult to installand maintain. Belt systems can require a large amount of room to installthe six hundred feet or more of picking line. These belt systems canhave great difficulty in maintaining the correlation between the paw andbird because the line can stretch, the inspector can stop theevisceration line and the like. When the correlation is lost, theuncorrelated paws must be disposed of or held until uncorrelated pawscan be correlated.

Accordingly, it remains desirable in the pertinent art to provide a pawselector that maintains paws in an ordered, indexed so that the paw canbe traced to a carcass.

SUMMARY

Presented herein is a paw selector for maintaining poultry paws in anordered, indexed manner so that each paw can be matched with the carcassfrom which it was removed. The paw selector can comprise at least onetray coupled to a rotatable shaft. Paws cut from a carcass can bepositioned on the tray of the paw selector. In use, the tray can rotateand drop the paws onto a lower tray or into a desired receptacle forfurther processing.

In one aspect, the at least one tray can comprise an inner tray wall andan outer tray wall spaced from the inner tray wall. In another aspect,the at least one tray can further comprise a plurality of tray dividingwalls that extend from the inner tray wall to the outer tray wall. Eachtray dividing wall can be spaced from an adjacent tray dividing wall todefine a plurality of tray pockets between adjacent tray dividing walls,the inner tray wall and the outer tray wall. In one aspect, the traywalls can be formed from a plurality of tray segments. For example, thetray wall can be formed from two, three or more segments that can becoupled together around the shaft to form a completed tray.

The at least one tray can further comprise a tray bottom. In one aspect,the tray bottom can be substantially annular in shape having a traybottom inner diameter and a tray bottom outer diameter that is greaterthan the inner diameter. In another aspect, the tray bottom can besubstantially flat so that when the tray bottom is positioned adjacent alower edge of the tray walls, the tray bottom can contact a portion ofthe tray walls to prevent or restrict material from leaving the traypocket. The tray bottom can be coupled to the tray walls such that, uponrotation of the tray walls, the tray bottom can remain stationary. In afurther aspect, at least one void can be defined in a portion of thetray bottom. In this aspect, the at least one void can be sized andshaped to correspond to the size and shape of at least one of theplurality of tray pockets. Thus, when the contents of a tray pocket arepositioned over the at least one void 36 of the tray bottom, thecontents of the tray pockets can drop through the void and fall belowthe tray bottom.

In use, a paw removed from a carcass can be dropped on the paw selector.The walls of the tray can rotate at a speed so that each pocket can havea desired number of paws in it. As the walls of the tray rotates, thewalls push or otherwise urge the paw around the fixed annular traybottom toward the at least one void of the tray bottom. Upon reachingthe void, the paw or paws in the tray pocket can drop through the voidand land on the adjacent lower tray, where the process repeats itself.

Upon a paw reaching the lowest tray, the paw can be urged toward the atleast one void of that tray. If the paw is acceptable, the paw can dropthrough the void into a first receptacle. If the paw is rejected aprocessor can actuate an actuator and the tray bottom can rotate to asecond position so that the paw will drop through the void and into asecond receptacle for disposal.

Related methods of operation are also provided. Other apparatuses,methods, systems, features, and advantages of the paw cutter will be orbecome apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of thefollowing figures and detailed description. It is intended that all suchadditional apparatuses, methods, systems, features, and advantages beincluded within this description, be within the scope of the paw cutter,and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the paw selector system of the presentapplication, showing a plurality of trays, according to one aspect;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the paw selector system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3. is a side elevational view of the trays of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a tray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a tray of FIG. 1, in which a tray segment hasbeen removed;

FIG. 6 is a is a side elevational view of the trays of FIG. 1, in whichone tray has been separated into a plurality of tray segments;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an actuator of the paw selector systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the paw selector system of FIG. 1 inuse; and

FIG. 9 is a view of a display device of the paw selector system of FIG.1, according to one aspect.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to thefollowing detailed description, examples, and claims, and their previousand following description. Before the present system, devices, and/ormethods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that thisinvention is not limited to the specific systems, devices, and/ormethods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course,vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein isfor the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is notintended to be limiting.

The following description of the invention is provided as an enablingteaching of the invention in its best, currently known aspect. Thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be madeto the aspects described, while still obtaining the beneficial resultsof the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of thedesired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selectingsome of the features of the present invention without utilizing otherfeatures. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize thatmany modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possibleand can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of thepresent invention. Thus, the following description is provided asillustrative of the principles of the present invention and not inlimitation thereof.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, reference to a “tray” includes aspects having two or more traysunless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/orto the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed asapproximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understoodthat the particular value forms another aspect. It will be furtherunderstood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant bothin relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the otherendpoint.

As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that thesubsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, andthat the description includes instances where said event or circumstanceoccurs and instances where it does not.

The application relates to paw selector systems and methods forcorrelating a poultry paw with the carcass from which it was removed. Inone aspect, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the paw selector 10 cancomprise at least one tray 12 coupled to a rotatable shaft 38. At leasta portion of the paw selector can be positioned adjacent to a paw cuttersystem 14 and/or a picking line 16 so that paws cut from a carcass canbe positioned on the tray of the paw selector. For example, at least aportion of the paw cutter system and/or the picking line can bepositioned above the tray 12 so that cut paws can drop from the pawcutter system 14 and/or the picking line 16 onto the tray. In use, thetray can rotate and drop the paws onto a lower tray or into a desiredreceptacle for further processing.

The at least one tray 12 can comprise a plurality of tray walls 17. Inone aspect, the plurality of tray walls can comprise an inner tray wall18 and an outer tray wall 20. The inner tray wall can be substantiallycircular having an outer wall diameter. The outer tray wall can besubstantially circular having an inner wall diameter D₁ that is greaterthan the outer wall diameter of the inner tray wall 18. Thus, the outertray wall 20 can be spaced from the inner tray wall a predetermineddistance that can be a pocket length. In another aspect, the at leastone tray 12 can further comprise a plurality of tray dividing walls 22that extend from the inner tray wall 18 to the outer tray wall 20. Eachtray dividing wall can be spaced from an adjacent tray dividing wall apredetermined distance that can be a pocket width. In another aspect,the plurality of tray dividing walls 22, the inner tray wall and theouter tray wall can cooperate to define a plurality of tray pockets 24having a predetermined pocket volume.

In one aspect, the tray walls 17 such as the inner tray wall 18, theouter tray wall 20, and/or the tray dividing walls 22 can be integrallyformed as a monolithic unit. Alternatively, at least a portion of theinner tray wall, the outer tray wall, and/or the tray dividing walls canbe formed from separate pieces coupled together. For example, at least aportion of the inner tray wall 18, the outer tray wall 20, and/or thetray dividing walls 22 can form a tray segment 40. In this example, aplurality of tray segments can be coupled together with bolts, nuts andthe like to form a completed tray. Thus, the walls of the tray 12 can beformed from two, three or more tray segments 40 coupled together.

At least a portion of the inner tray wall 18, the outer tray wall 20,and/or the tray dividing walls 22 can be molded from or cut from apolymeric material, such as nylon and the like. Optionally, at least aportion of the inner tray wall, the outer tray wall, and/or the traydividing walls can be formed from a metallic material, such as stainlesssteel and the like, that has been cut and/or welded together to definethe tray pockets. In another aspect, the inner tray wall 18, the outertray wall 20, and the tray dividing walls 22 can each have a wall heightsubstantially the same. That is, the distance from a lower edge 26 ofeach tray wall 17 to an upper edge 28 can be substantially the same.

The at least one tray 12 can further comprise a tray bottom 30. In oneaspect, the tray bottom can be substantially annular in shape having atray bottom width W₁. For example, the tray bottom width can be thedifference between a tray bottom inner diameter 32 and a tray bottomouter diameter 34. In another aspect, the tray bottom width can begreater than the pocket length of the tray pockets 24. In a furtheraspect, the tray bottom can be substantially flat so that when the traybottom 30 is positioned adjacent the lower edge 26 of the tray walls 17,the tray bottom can contact a portion of the tray walls to prevent orrestrict material from leaving the tray pocket 24.

In one aspect, at least one void 36 can be defined in a portion of thetray bottom 30. In this aspect, the at least one void can be sized andshaped to correspond to the size and shape of at least one of theplurality of tray pockets. Thus, when the contents of a tray pocket arepositioned over the at least one void 36 of the tray bottom, thecontents of the tray pockets can drop through the void and fall belowthe tray bottom.

At least one wing 48 can extend radially from a portion of the traybottom 30. In one aspect, the wing can be configured to contact orcouple to a fixed post 50 to prevent rotation of the tray bottom. Inanother aspect, the wing of at least a lowest tray bottom 51 can becoupled to an actuator 52 that can selectively rotate the lowest traybottom to a desired orientation. For example, the lowest tray bottom canbe rotated to a first position, in which the at least one void is at afirst orientation relative to the center of the lowest tray bottom, anda second position, in which the at least one void is at a secondorientation relative to the center of the lowest tray bottom that isdifferent than the first orientation.

The paw selector 10 can further comprise a rotatable shaft 38. In oneaspect, the shaft can be positioned substantially vertically. In anotheraspect, a substantially cylindrical drum 42 can be coupled to the shaftso that rotation of the shaft causes the drum to rotate at the samerotation speed. As can be appreciated, conventional gears, motors 43,cams, and the like can be utilized to urge movement of the rotatableshaft as desired. In one aspect, the shaft can be coupled to the pickingline so that the picking line drives the shaft. In another aspect, therotation speed can be an adjustable rotation speed.

In one aspect, the at least one tray 12 comprises a plurality of stackedtrays. For example, a first tray 44 of the plurality of stacked trayscan overlie at least a portion of a second tray 46. As can beappreciated, there can be any number of stacked trays, such as forexample, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20 or more than 20 stacked trays.

To assemble the paw selector 10 of the present application, a portion ofthe tray walls 17 of a first tray can be coupled to the rotatable shaft38. In one aspect, a portion of the inner tray wall 18 can be attachedto the cylindrical drum 42. For example, if the tray is formed from aplurality of tray segments 40, the tray segments can be positionedaround the drum and coupled together with bolts, nuts and the like. Ascan be appreciated, the tray segments can be securedly tightened to eachother so that the tray segments 40 are compression-fit to the drum orshaft. Further, bolts, clips and the like can be used to secure the traywalls 17 and/or any tray segments to the drum or shaft. Thus, rotationof the shaft 38 can cause the walls of the tray to rotate as well.

The tray bottom 30 can be fixedly coupled to the lower edge 26 of thetray 12. That is, the tray bottom can be positioned substantially incontact with the lower edge of the walls of the tray so that the traybottom encloses the bottom of each tray pocket 24. However, the traybottom can be fixedly attached in position so that rotation of therotatable shaft 38 does not cause rotation of the tray bottom 30. Forexample, the wing 48 of each tray can be fixedly attached to astationary object, such as a fixed post 50 to prevent rotation of thetray bottom. In one aspect, a plurality of clips 54 can extend from thelower edge 26 of the tray walls. The clips can allow the tray walls 17to rotate relative to the tray bottom 30 while keeping the tray bottomin a desired position relative to the lower edge.

The tray bottom 30 can be oriented so that in the first position, thevoid is aligned with a first receptacle or conveyor, and in the secondposition, the void is aligned with a second receptacle or conveyor. Inuse, described more fully below, accepted paws can drop into the firstreceptacle or conveyor and upon detecting, counting or sensing arejected paw, the actuator 52 can rotate the tray bottom so that thevoid is in the second position and the rejected paws can drop throughthe void to the second receptacle or conveyor.

If the paw selector 10 comprises a plurality of stacked trays 12, asecond tray can be positioned over the first tray a spaced distance.That is, the second tray can be substantially aligned and in anoverlying position relative to the first tray. Assembly of the secondand all subsequent trays can be substantially the same as that of thefirst tray. However, the void 36 defined in each tray 12 can be at adifferent orientation relative to the shaft 38 than the adjacent trays.Thus, the voids of adjacent trays should not be vertically aligned sothat anything dropping through a void 36 in a tray does not also dropthrough the void defined in the tray below.

In one aspect, the paw selector further comprises at least one sensor 90and a control system 100. In this aspect, the at least one sensor can beelectrically coupled to the control system. In one aspect, the sensorcan be a proximity sensor configured to sense the absence or presence ofan object, according to one aspect. In another aspect, the sensor can bea photoelectric sensor configured to sense the absence or presence of anobject by using a light transmitter and a photoelectric receiver. In afurther aspect, the sensor can be an encoder coupled to the shaft 38 orto the motor 43 and configured to sense the rotational speed of theshaft or motor.

In one aspect, the control system 100 can comprise a processor 102electrically coupled to the at least one sensor 90 and programmed toselectively monitor, display, set and/or control at least one of theoperating parameters of the paw selector. In another aspect, theprocessor can be electrically coupled to at least one of theeviscerating line, the picking line 16, the motor 43 and the actuator52. Thus, in one aspect, the processor can be configured to actuate theactuator 52 when appropriate so that rejected paws can be removed fromthe system. In another aspect, the processor can be configured tomonitor, display, set and/or control the speed at which paw selectorrotates.

For example, the rotational speed of the paw selector 10 can be adjustedautomatically by the processor based on a speed of the picking line 16and/or the eviscerating line. In another example, in one aspect, acounter or other sensor 90 sensing the speed and/or presence of paws onthe picking line and/or the eviscerating line can send this informationto the processor 102. The at least one motor 43 can be configured toselectively speed up or slow down the shaft as necessary to provide fora desired rate of paws to be processed. That is, the processor cancontrol the speed with which the shaft, and thus each tray 12 rotates.Further, the at least one sensor 90 on the eviscerating line and on thepicking line, and the sensor of the paw selector can all provide countsto the processor. As these picking line 16 and/or the paw selectorcounts reach the eviscerating count corresponding to the desiredinspector location or locations, the processor can update the remainingcounts to the rejection point at the end of the paw selector.

In one aspect, the paw selector 10 can further comprise a timer 106. Inthis aspect, the timer can be electrically coupled to at least onesensor 90 of the plurality of sensors and/or the processor 102. Thetimer can be configured to measure the amount of time passed uponreceiving a signal from the at least one sensor and/or the processor.

In one aspect, the processor 102 of the control system 100 can comprise,for example and without limitation, a computer or a Programmable LogicController (PLC), that is in communication with a display device 104. Inanother aspect, the processor can be configured as part of a feedbackcontrol loop to selectively control the speed of the paws within apredetermined tolerance based on the speed sensed by the at least onesensor 90.

With reference to FIG. 9, in one aspect, the control system 100 canfurther comprise the display device 104 configured to display at leastone of: the speed at which the picking line is operating and therejection mode in which the control system is operating. For example,the control system can reject paws in “Time” mode. In Time mode, thetime within which a paw has been in the paw selector 10 can be monitoredand paws can be rejected by correlating the time to a rejected carcass.In another example, in “Count” mode, the number of paws in the pawselector 10 are counted and known. In Count mode, the processor 102 cancorrelate when the rejected paw reaches the rejection point (wherein thelowest tray bottom is in the second position) and the rejected carcasson the eviscerating line by counting the paws.

If there is an error with a sensor 90, the processor 102 can recognizethe error and notify the operator of the sensor problem. In one aspect,the processor can automatically switch from “Count” mode to “Time” modeso there is no loss of product. In another aspect, while in “Time” mode,a gate time can be varied to cover line stoppage. This can be a numberproportional to the amount of time the line is stopped.

In use, a paw 56 removed from a carcass by, for example and withoutlimitation, a paw cutter system 14, can be dropped on the paw selector10. For example, the paw can slide down a chute 58 sized and shaped toalign the paw with the tray pockets 24 of the tray 12. As discussedabove, the walls 17 of the tray can rotate while the tray bottom 30 canremain stationary. Thus, the walls of the tray can rotate at a speed sothat each pocket can have a desired number of paws in it. As the walls17 of the tray rotates, the walls push or otherwise urge the paw 56around the annular tray bottom toward the at least one void 36 of thetray bottom 30. Upon reaching the void, the paw or paws in the traypocket 24 can drop through the void and land on the adjacent lower tray.In this adjacent lower tray 12, the tray walls 17 can push or otherwiseurge the paw toward the at least one void 36, wherein the paw dropsthrough to the next lower tray. This can continue until the lowest trayis reached by the paw.

Upon reaching the lowest tray, the paw 56 can be urged toward the atleast one void 36 of that tray. If the paw is acceptable, the traybottom 30 will remain in the first position and the paw will dropthrough the void onto the first receptacle. If the paw is rejected,(that is, if the carcass from which the paw came has been rejected), theprocessor 102 can actuate the actuator 52 and the tray bottom can rotateto the second position so that the paw 56 will drop through the void andonto the second receptacle. For example, if the carcass from which thepaw came has been rejected, the control system 100 can use a count ofpaws and carcasses to correlate the rejected paw with the rejectedcarcass and actuate the actuator when the rejected paw reaches therejection point. In another example, if the carcass from which the pawcame has been rejected, the control system 100 can use a timer tocorrelate the rejected paw with the rejected carcass.

As can be appreciated, the paw selector 10 has a small foot print. Inone aspect, the capacity of the paw selector can be increased by simplyan additional tray 12 on top of existing trays. In another aspect, whilerunning in “Count” mode, line stretch in any of the picking and/oreviscerating lines can be irrelevant because the number of paws andcarcasses is monitored and tracked. The paw selector 10 can easily becombined with a paw cutter system 14 or paw unloaded to put an exactnumber of paws or feet in a tray in exact time. Hence, there can beoutstanding correlation between a rejected carcass and the pawcorresponding thereto. In a further aspect, the plurality of sensors 90coupled to the processor 102 can eliminate any issues with line speedvariations or line stoppage of the eviscerating line. Further eachsensor can be independent hence every line stoppage or speed variationcan be sensed.

In one aspect, the “floating” tray bottom 30 (relative to the traywalls) can allow for variations in material and manufacturingtolerances. In another aspect, this design allow for quick and easyremoval of the tray wall for clean up and sanitation. Thus, the traysegments 40 can be removed while the floating tray bottom 30 can stay inplace coupled to the shaft 38 or drum 42.

Although several aspects of the invention have been disclosed in theforegoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the artthat many modifications and other aspects of the invention will come tomind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teachingpresented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It isthus understood that the invention is not limited to the specificaspects disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and otheraspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as wellas in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic anddescriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the describedinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paw selector system for maintaining poultrypaws in an ordered manner comprising: a rotatable shaft; at least onetray comprising: an inner tray wall, an outer tray wall spaced from theinner tray wall and a plurality of tray dividing walls that extend fromthe inner tray wall to the outer tray wall, wherein each tray dividingwall of the plurality of tray dividing walls is spaced from an adjacenttray dividing wall to define a plurality of tray pockets betweenadjacent tray dividing walls, the inner tray wall and the outer traywall, wherein the at least one tray is coupled to the rotatable shaft sothat the at least one tray is rotatable with the rotatable shaft; and atray bottom positioned adjacent a lower edge of the tray walls of the atleast one tray, wherein at least one void is defined in a portion of thetray bottom, wherein the at least one void is sized to correspond to thesize of at least one of the plurality of tray pockets, and wherein thetray bottom is coupled to the tray walls such that, upon rotation of thetray walls, the tray bottom remains stationary, wherein the poultry pawis positionable in a tray pocket, wherein rotation of the rotatableshaft causes the tray pocket and the poultry paw positioned therein torotate relative to the tray bottom, and wherein when the poultry paw isrotated over the at least one void of the tray bottom, the poultry pawdrops through the at least one void.
 2. The paw selector system of claim1, wherein the at least one tray comprises a plurality of trays that arestacked.
 3. The paw selector system of claim 2, wherein a first tray ofthe plurality of stacked trays overlies at least a portion of a secondtray of the plurality of stacked trays.
 4. The paw selector system ofclaim 3, wherein upon rotation of the poultry paw to the at least onevoid of the first tray, the poultry paw drops through the at least onevoid into a tray pocket of the second tray.
 5. The paw selector systemof claim 4, wherein the plurality of stacked trays comprises a lowesttray underlying each of the other stacked trays.
 6. The paw selectorsystem of claim 5, wherein a portion of the tray bottom of the lowesttray is coupled to an actuator configured to selectively rotate thelowest tray bottom between a first position, in which the at least onevoid of the tray bottom of the lowest tray is at a first orientationrelative to the center of the lowest tray bottom, and a second position,in which the at least one void is at a second orientation relative tothe center of the lowest tray bottom that is different than the firstorientation.
 7. The paw selector system of claim 6, wherein in the firstposition, the at least one void overlies a first conveyor, and in thesecond position, the at least one void overlies a second conveyor. 8.The paw selector system of claim 7, further comprising a processor andat least one sensor electrically coupled to the processor.
 9. The pawselector system of claim 8, wherein at least one sensor senses thepresence of a poultry paw, and wherein at least one sensor senses therotational speed of the rotatable shaft.
 10. The paw selector system ofclaim 9, wherein the processor is configured to count the number ofpoultry paws sensed by the at least one sensor, and wherein theprocessor correlates when a predetermined poultry paw reaches the lowesttray by comparing the number of poultry paws, tray pockets androtational speed of the rotatable shaft.
 11. The paw selector system ofclaim 10, wherein when a predetermined poultry paw reaches the lowesttray, the processor actuates the actuator to the first position if thepoultry paw is acceptable, and to the second position if the poultry pawis rejected.
 12. The paw selector system of claim 9, wherein theprocessor monitors the time within which a poultry paw has beenpositioned in the paw selector system.
 13. The paw selector system ofclaim 12, wherein when a predetermined poultry paw has been in the pawselector system a predetermined amount of time, the processor actuatesthe actuator to the first position if the poultry paw is acceptable, andto the second position if the poultry paw is rejected.
 14. The pawselector system of claim 12, wherein the poultry paw is automaticallysupplied to the paw selector system by a paw cutter system.
 15. A methodof maintaining poultry paws in an ordered manner comprising: providing apaw selector system comprising: a rotatable shaft; at least one traycomprising: an inner tray wall, an outer tray wall spaced from the innertray wall and a plurality of tray dividing walls that extend from theinner tray wall to the outer tray wall, wherein each tray dividing wallof the plurality of tray dividing walls is spaced from an adjacent traydividing wall to define a plurality of tray pockets between adjacenttray dividing walls, the inner tray wall and the outer tray wall,wherein the at least one tray is coupled to the rotatable shaft so thatthe at least one tray is rotatable with the rotatable shaft; and a traybottom positioned adjacent a lower edge of the tray walls of the atleast one tray, wherein at least one void is defined in a portion of thetray bottom, wherein the at least one void is sized and shaped tocorrespond to the size and shape of at least one of the plurality oftray pockets, and wherein the tray bottom is coupled to the tray wallssuch that, upon rotation of the tray walls, the tray bottom remainsstationary; and positioning a poultry paw in a tray pocket, whereinrotation of the rotatable shaft causes the tray pocket and the poultrypaw positioned therein to rotate relative to the tray bottom, andwherein when the poultry paw is rotated over the at least one void ofthe tray bottom, the poultry paw drops through the at least one void.16. The method of claim 15, wherein the paw selector system furthercomprises a processor and at least one sensor electrically coupled tothe processor.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one sensorsenses the presence of a poultry paw, and wherein at least one sensorsenses the rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the processor is configured to count the number ofpoultry paws sensed by the at least one sensor, and wherein theprocessor correlates when a predetermined poultry paw reaches the lowesttray by comparing the number of poultry paws, tray pockets androtational speed of the rotatable shaft.
 19. A method of correlating apoultry paw with the carcass from which it was removed, the methodcomprising: providing a paw selector system comprising: a rotatableshaft; at least one tray comprising: an inner tray wall, an outer traywall spaced from the inner tray wall and a plurality of tray dividingwalls that extend from the inner tray wall to the outer tray wall,wherein each tray dividing wall of the plurality of tray dividing wallsis spaced from an adjacent tray dividing wall to define a plurality oftray pockets between adjacent tray dividing walls, the inner tray walland the outer tray wall, wherein the at least one tray is coupled to therotatable shaft so that the at least one tray is rotatable with therotatable shaft; a tray bottom positioned adjacent a lower edge of thetray walls of the at least one tray, wherein at least one void isdefined in a portion of the tray bottom, wherein the at least one voidis sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of at least oneof the plurality of tray pockets, and wherein the tray bottom is coupledto the tray walls such that, upon rotation of the tray walls, the traybottom remains stationary; and a processor and at least one sensorelectrically coupled to the processor, wherein at least one sensorsenses the presence of a poultry paw, and wherein at least one sensorsenses the rotational speed of the rotatable shaft, positioning apoultry paw in a tray pocket, wherein rotation of the rotatable shaftcauses the tray pocket and the poultry paw positioned therein to rotaterelative to the tray bottom, wherein when the poultry paw is rotatedover the at least one void of the tray bottom, the poultry paw dropsthrough the at least one void, wherein the processor is configured tocount the number of poultry paws sensed by the at least one sensor, andwherein the processor correlates when a predetermined poultry pawreaches the lowest tray by comparing the number of poultry paws, traypockets and rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.